Romney-Ryan Ticket Out of Touch with Americans on LGBT Equality

Paul Ryan does not support LGBT families; hate crime protections; marriage equality; open military service

Washington – The Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization – is responding today to Mitt Romney’s selection of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) as his running mate. Ryan’s voting record in Congress – and his public remarks – make it clear that he does not support the dignity of LGBT Americans; a matter on which he is out-of-touch with the majority of Americans – even those within the Republican Party.

Paul Ryan does not support LGBT families, and has voted against allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt. He voted against hate crime protections. He opposed repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and he does not support marriage equality. Recent polling shows just how out-of-touch Ryan’s positions on LGBT equality are: support for marriage equality stands at 54 percent nationwide, with those between the ages of 18 – 34 supporting marriage equality by 73 percent; according to a June CNN/ORC International Survey. Nearly 50 percent of Republicans under the age of 35 also support marriage equality, according to an NBC News/WSJ poll.

"Ryan's record of voting against fairness, dignity and equality is out of touch with the majority of Americans and a fast growing majority of Republicans," said HRC President Chad Griffin. "LGBT Americans need leadership that will continue to fight for their rights to protect their families, marry the person they love, and enjoy equal protections under the law."

Mitt Romney’s record is no better than Ryan’s on matters of LGBT equality. Romney does not support relationship recognition for LGBT people – making him even more conservative on LGBT issues than former President George W. Bush, who supported civil unions while in office. Romney views workplace protections for LGBT people as an “unfair burden on employers,” and he does not acknowledge the dignity and respect LGBT families deserve. As a signer of the National Organization for Marriage’s (NOM) “marriage pledge,” Mitt Romney has committed himself to vigorously pursuing a federal marriage amendment – a goal his running mate shares; defending the Defense of Marriage Act; and even setting up a McCarthy-like commission to investigate those who do not support NOM’s anti-LGBT views.

In the House, Ryan voted against hate crimes protections for LGBT people twice. He does not support marriage equality – in fact, he has twice supported the Federal Marriage Amendment that would ban loving, committed same-sex couples from marrying, and he supported a similar constitutional amendment in his home state of Wisconsin. Ryan does not support LGBT families – he voted in favor of banning gay and lesbian couples from adopting in the nation’s capital. He also voted against repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Is it that Paul Ryan is out of touch or is it because he is a Catholic? I think the latter thereby he is a (principled man) holding to his beliefs you CAN NOT fault a person for their consistent convictions. I am a Conservative I believe that LGBT people are BORN that way. I believe that LGBT people should have the RIGHT to enter into a (civil union)Saving (marriage) as a (traditional) Contract between (MAN and WOMAN.) I Believe this is a (good) compromise with LGBT people having ALL of the same rights under said (union) as do those in (traditional) marriage. Unfortunately although I have argued this point at (many) (Republican) conventions as a delegate up to the state level for many years. The Evangelicals have (control) over the Agenda and that is the (simple) Reality. If you are REALY interested in changing that then I would (suggest) the best way is from the (inside.) So if you can agree with many other parts of the (Republican) Platform then I would change parties vote Republican, and get to your Counties next Republican Central Committee meeting and tell the Chair person you are interested in becoming a member of the Committee. Then when their is an opening in your precinct for a new member you can learn the process join other Committees (IE Agenda Committee) That weeds out duplicate planks etc. etc. and writes the Agenda for the District then again for the State. Otherwise you are ALL GAS and No ENGINE!

I don't live in America and I find it really hard to belive this article is not some sort of a joke. Ken Souder, War Vet, Edward Kivitz, I am sure you can't be serious.
If you are it is very sad really. Wake up! You are in 2012.